741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Historic District Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman Ty Lamb

Regular Meeting

Monday, July 21, 2025

7:00 PM

Town Hall Annex -Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting was called to order by Chairman Lamb at 7:00 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner Douglas Kelley

Alternate Member Vincent Godino

Chairperson Ty Lamb

Present

Commissioner Ammie Chittim

Commissioner Karen Parkinson

Alternate Member Kenneth Geer

Commissioner Kelly Lamb

Excused

Late

Commissioner Rebecca Watford

Mr. Chittim was present via Zoom.

Bill Barnes, Town Council joined the meeting at 7:04 p.m.

III.

IV.

APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Mr. Godino was appointed as a voting member.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE the Regular Meeting Minutes from June 16, 2025, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Douglas Kelley

RESULT:

MOVER:

Karen Parkinson

SECONDER:

Kelley Godino Lamb Chittim Parkinson

Geer Lamb

AYE

EXCUSED

VI.

TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT

Town Council Liaison - Councilor Bill Barnes.

Councilor Barnes said he reported a few weeks ago that there may be a stocking of fish at

Sawmill Pond. He said that Scott Johnson, Parks and Recreation/Senior Center Director was

contacted by TJ Hepburn from the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Ledyard

is on DEP's radar for the fish stocking, although nothing more has been heard. Councilor Barnes

will keep the Commission posted.

Councilor Barnes asked the Commission if the pipe lining is scheduled or completed? It was

answered that it has been completed. Councilor Barnes asked about the quality of work, and Mr.

Godino reported that the project went well.

Councilor Barnes said that the Spicer Ruins should go before Land Use before it goes before the

Town Council. Councilor Barnes will find out the next recommended step and report back to the

Commission.

VII. CHAIRMAN REPORT

General Report.

Chairman Lamb said he will focus more on the financial report this month.

Financial Report.

Chairman Lamb said at the end of last year's fiscal year a tree contractor donated his time and

did not charge for his tree removal services. The cost would have been approximately $1,400.

These funds were instead used for the Nathan Lester House. Chairman Lamb gave a report

coming into the new fiscal year. The budget was not changed much since the previous year when

Mr. Godino was Chairman.

Building Maintenance NLH - $7,500

Building Maintenance Sawmill - $3151

Operations NLH - $4015

Operations Sawmill - $1605

Miscellaneous - $1,500

Chairman Lamb reported that the Capital accounts have not been updated yet, therefore he is

waiting on the official numbers.

The Sawmill donation account should be $6,692.

The NLH donation account should be $12,355.57. A purchase order was cut for $3,300 leaving

$9055.57.

The capital account should still be at - $54,300.

The maintenance account should still be at - $18,579.

The ARPA account should still be in the range of $39,764. A Purchase order was cut for the

Sawmill, that will use this entire amount plus some of the Building Maintenance Account funds.

The Building Maintenance account will be approximately $33,000.

Purchase Orders:

ARPA -

Pro-Plumbing

Beth Ackley report

Two Holdridge Purchase orders, one for the NLH and one for the Sawmill.

Chairman Lamb asked the Commissioners to either give him the Holdridge receipts or put them

inside a labeled envelope placed in the drop box outside of the Town Hall.

Mr. Kelley asked if Ms. Roxo's name is on the Holdridge account. Chairman Lamb will speak to

Holdridge to update the names on the Historic Commission account.

DISCUSSED

VIII. CORRESPONDENCE

RESULT:

Correspondence.

No direct mailings to the Commission to report.

IX.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Sawmill Committee.

Chairman Lamb said he received an email from Mr. Ganong regarding an emerging issue at the

Sawmill. The ballpark cost for fixing the tail race stonework repair is $2,000-$4,000. Chairman

Lamb will look will request a purchase order to be taken out of the Capital Account. He added

that if the issue isn't fixed now, it will be much more costly later. He will give a report on the

status next month.

Mr. Godino reported that the report on the dam is complete. There are some draft

recommendations for future work. Once the final report is complete it will be sent to all the

Commissioners. Mr. Godino said if work needs to be completed on the dam it will be expensive.

Mr. Godino asked what the risk is if nothing is done. The Engineer replied if there is a storm that

results in a foot or more overage there could be irreparable damage or possibly even failure. Mr.

Godino said the dam was rebuilt in the 1980's. Councilor Barnes said that it is hard to justify a

half-a-million-dollar investment to protect the Sawmill from weather that hasn't been seen in 150

years. Councilor Barnes told Mr. Godino that he did a great job in understanding the risk and

probability and is only sharing his concern because of the magnitude of the cost. He added that

the Town will have serious difficulty funding that level of Capital for dam work. Chairman

Lamb said he didn't mind if Mr. Godino continued to explore alternate funding profiles as well

as alternate repair solutions. Ms. Watford recommended that the Commissioners talk to the

residents who live upstream since they had significant well and structure damage during

hurricane Sandy, perhaps they could advise on where the water flows during a flood. Mr. Godino

ended by saying if the dam is lost then the mill would be lost too.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Nathan Lester House - Mr. Kelley.

Mr. Kelley reported that it was a busy month at the Nathan Lester House.

Several events have been hosted -

On June 21st the family and friends of William Fossum, the late Historic Chairman attended a

remembrance using the Great Oak Garden, back of the house and the museum.

July 4, the community was welcomed for a day of picnicking on the Great Oak lawn, children's

games, an Eagle Scout Project Fundraiser, a reveal of the discovery barn and tours of the house

dressed for the occasion with patriotic artifacts.

The Graves-Hill family gathered for their first reunion at the NLH. The Graves-Hill family were

the last owners of the property before the sale to the Town. Mr. Kelley said the Graves-Hill

family descendants met at the NLH a week later to share images of their family's 60-year tenure,

to more deeply explain the physical and social history of the NLH. Mr. Kelley hopes this event is

repeated.

Major projects:

Clearing the front portion of the main barn to develop a children's discover space.

Clearing the carriage shed, so it may become an exhibit space.

Installation of roll away AC units in the museum by Public Works.

Start of work in the new museum office.

Mr. Kelley added that the AC units were made possible because EJ Smith donated his work to

remove the large larch tree from the NLH property which saved the Commission $1,400. This

money was used for AC units instead.

Meetings were held with long-term partners from the Ledyard Historical Society and the Ledyard

Garden Club.

New partnerships are being sought to advance and increase community use of the property -

Coordination with trail groups to re-blaze the Great Oak Trail, Mr. Kelley thanked Ms.

Parkinson for her help with this project. Holmberg Orchards to plan restoration of the historic

orchard.

Outreach to the Mashantucket Pequot Nation. This individual outreach will be combined into a

renewed NLH Committee.

Mr. Kelley summarized Victoria Roxo, Museum Director's report -

Weekly children story time program. This program has increased family outreach with new

families joining and numerous direct donations have been received for the program such as

books, train tables and toys to outfit the children's barn.

A meeting was held with Kristen Chapman, Mayor's Assistant, to establish the correct path to

pursue a gift shop.

Looking into income producing possibilities, including new venue pricing, classes and

workshops.

Exploring the possibility of a new 501(c)(3) for the pursuit of grants and how to approach this

new Nonprofit status in a phased way. Market the program with the aid of the Town and to

include the Town in future planned events.

Meetings were held with Tri-Town-Trails, Gosha Education Foundation and the Conservation

Commission for help with a trail map system. On September 13, 2025, the new trail map system

will begin implementation. A Scout trail day is planned.

Demonstrators and volunteers are being secured for the Fall Festival on September 27, 2025.

The NLH Museum intern has cataloged various parts of the barn looms which will be included

in the Newbury Weaving School of New England Registry of Barn Looms.

Art week will feature an En Plain Air Painting event, watercolor pallets for the use of the

community, story time program, and a community art project designed by visiting artist Justin

Roxo who will donate a portrait of the NLH to the museum.

Mr. Godino said he may have a contact that would be able to participate in a craft demonstration

for the Fall festival.

Mr. Kelley said the Graves-Hill has an unofficial family archivist (Nick Hill) who loaned a

family album and access to an online photo archive. Mr. Kelley said viewing these photos has

answered a lot of questions. He commented that viewing the house immediately after the 1938

hurricane was a revelation.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Center School - Mr. Geer.

Mr. Geer reported that not much has changed in the past month.

Social Media - Ms. Lamb.

Chairman Lamb asked Ms. Watford if she has worked with Ms. Lamb to promote on social

media. Ms. Watford said she has several photos and will work with Ms. Lamb.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Research/Preservation - Ms. Chittim.

Ms. Chittim reported that she has been meeting with Mr. Kelley and Ms. Roxo on how to use

research and preservation in conjunction with the NLH property. Ms. Chittim will be setting up a

time to go to the Ledyard Farmer's market to get Historic Commission information out to the

community. The fall festival, which will include an archeological demonstration, will be

promoted at the Farmer's market. Ms. Chittim said one of the biggest goals that came out of the

meeting was to start an excavation with volunteer opportunities with at the NLH. Ms. Chittim

wrote a list of items needed for the excavation. Depending on the extent of the program the cost

would range from $1,000 to $2,500. Ms. Chittim said the excavation could lead to different

avenues of public outreach, publications and grants that the Commission is not currently eligible

for. Chairman Lamb said he will meet with Ms. Chittim to discuss further. Ms. Parkison offered

to help with a tent or other equipment needed at the Farmer's market. Ms. Chittim finished by

saying that she shared the NLH page and story time event with the Military Community in hopes

of reaching new families.

Ms. Parkison said that she participated in a two-mile hike with Tom Olsen (who is part of both

the Tri-Town Trail and Gosha) and Michael Marelli from the Conservation Commission

Chairman. During the hike they planned out how to redo the trail signage.

Ms. Parkinson said the Spicer Ruins is on hold until there is more clarification on step one from

Land Use. Ms. Parkinson added that once she can move forward there will be several

opportunities that can happen, such as an archeological dig.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

OLD BUSINESS

Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.

None.

XI.

NEW BUSINESS

Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.

None.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 7:55 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Vincent Godino

RESULT:

MOVER:

Douglas Kelley

SECONDER:

Kelley Godino Lamb Chittim Parkinson

Geer Lamb

AYE

EXCUSED

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.